What does it mean word for word?
The noun 楽しみ (tanoshimi) refers to pleasure, enjoyment or an anticipated event.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 楽しみにしています is polite and suitable for use with colleagues, superiors or people you do not know well. For a more casual version used with friends and family, you can use the shortened form 楽しみにしてる. In very informal everyday conversations among friends or peers, you might also use 楽しみにしてるよ to say "I'm looking forward to it," or ワクワクしてる to say "I'm excited." To convey the feeling of "I can't wait!" informally, you can use 待ちきれない.
How do you pronounce it?
tanoshimi ni shite imasu
When do people say it?
In formal contexts, there are other ways to convey anticipation. お待ちしております is a formal expression used to say "I am waiting for it," while 心待ちにしております is a polite way to express that you have been earnestly waiting for something.
Did you know?
- If you are extremely excited, you might use the onomatopoeic word ワクワク (waku waku). This mimics the feeling of a heart pounding or a sense of fluttering excitement, which is a common way Japanese people express internal physiological feelings.
- The word 心待ち (kokoro-machi) literally means 'heart-waiting', implying that your very heart is doing the waiting.
- While English speakers often say 'I am looking forward to it', Japanese speakers often use the verb 待つ (matsu), meaning 'to wait', to express the same sentiment. Using お待ちしております (omachi shite orimasu) sounds much more professional than a literal translation of 'looking forward'.
Examples in context
- 楽しみにしています。I'm looking forward to it.This sentence is useful for stating that you are looking forward to something.Tatoeba #2041004 by bunbuku, translation #21276 by CK
- また集まれたらいいですね。ええ、私も楽しみにしています。I hope we can get together again. Yes, I'll be looking forward to it.This sentence is useful for responding to a hope to meet again by saying you are looking forward to it.Tatoeba #195427 by bunbuku, translation #32601 by CM
- 楽しみにしていますが、どんなことが待っているのか教えてください。I'm looking forward to it, but could you please tell me what to expect?
- 待ち遠しいですね！It feels like such a long wait!
- 早く週末が来ないかな。I wish the weekend would come sooner.
- 明日の旅行をとても楽しみにしています。Ashita no ryokou o totemo tanoshimi ni shiteimasu.I am really looking forward to tomorrow's trip.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are discussing their dinner plans.
- 美咲 Misaki今夜はイタリアンに行きましょう。Konya wa itarian ni ikimashou.Let's go to an Italian restaurant tonight.
- 陽太 Yotaいいですね。賛成です。Ii desu ne. Sansei desu.That sounds good. I agree.
- 美咲 Misakiでは、七時に駅で会いましょう。Dewa, shichiji ni eki de aimashou.Then, let's meet at the station at seven o'clock.
- 陽太 Yotaはい、楽しみにしています。Hai, tanoshimi ni shiteimasu.Okay, I'm looking forward to it.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
